OJO DE DIOS SHAWL AND COWGIRL COWL PATTERN REVIEWS...

Because I always have to have something in my hands (whether waiting in doctor's offices, or while watching the JAWS Marathon on TV the other night - at least they got to cool off in the water for a FEW moments), I've finished up some things lately that my knitting buddies might like a report on...mainly because I don't want to be the only one with this weird "idle hands thing" of mine.  Idle hands knitting at 112 degrees is quite a silly sport!

(Photo credit:   Interweave Knits/Vanessa Ewing)

I NEVER (well, that seems to be a bit of a lie now, given the content of this post) want to make something the way it is produced in a pattern.  I color outside the lines, and am pretty passionately individualistic. THIS, however, SCREAMED, "make me in JUST this incredible yarn!"  OJO DE DIOS SHAWL by Vanessa Ewing - every yarn shop in the country seems to be out of the colorway, leading me to believe that there will be hundreds of these, but it had to be done just the way it was.  Especially for us Southwest gals.  I have seen some of the other colorways, and believe me, they are just as spectacular...I just couldn't settle for "my way" this time.

A FABULOUSLY well-written, FUN pattern (HANDS-DOWN, my newest favorite!).  You won't get bored with this one (and it's easy to memorize) - "God's Eyes" are joined as you go.  The only thing I did different with this pattern was to work the three-sided Eyes with three 16" circular needles instead of the double points called for.  Pick up, and garter stitch short rows for the body.  Want the pattern for yourself - information can be found at RAVELRY (click either of these highlighted links to be transported), or INTERWEAVE KNITS.

(Photo credit:  Pam Powers Knits)

Winter can't get here soon enough - especially now that we are hitting 110 degrees before noon.  Second great pattern, COWGIRL COWL, by Pam Powers - this one took a little more concentration but was fairly easy to follow...I did pull out a notebook to make hash marks as I would finish a row.  Again, as I am in love with anything in this color right now, I did it as it was...

Baah! La Jolla Yarn was used - I LOVE Baah!'s yarns!  I admit to a little tea dying when I was through, to tone down the color I had purchased.  Pattern is worked back and forth across the rectangle cowl part first, and then changes direction to up and down to form the triangle section at the bottom - all in one/no seaming (I LOVE when that happens) - FABULOUS!  Pattern can be found on RAVELRY, or PAM POWERS KNITS.

Hoping for a travel post in the next few days, before travelling again, needles on a plane this time...

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY - make it a safe one!